Cedar Rapids Today

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson has introduced new legislation focused on improving birth control options for women living in rural areas. The bill, known as the Access to LARCs Act, aims to address disparities in access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) for women who rely on community health centers (CHCs) in regions often referred to as "health care deserts."

Currently, clinics that receive Title X funding are able to offer a comprehensive range of contraceptive options, including LARCs like IUDs and arm implants, at significantly higher rates than those CHCs without such funding. This discrepancy leaves many women in rural areas with limited access to effective FDA-approved pregnancy prevention methods.

The proposed legislation calls for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study and report back to Congress on the state of contraceptive access at CHCs located in these underserved areas.

"Ensuring women, regardless of zip code, have access to safe birth control options is vital for women's health and family planning," said Congresswoman Hinson. She added that the legislation is intended to expand these options for adult women who depend on CHCs for their healthcare needs. "I've listened to women across Iowa and will continue proposing commonsense solutions to improve women's health care access," she stated.